‘Defund Obamacare Tour’ To Launch In Fayetteville Aug. 19

WASHINGTON — Fayetteville will be the first stop on a nine-city summer tour to “Defund Obamacare” that is being organized by Heritage Action for America.

The conservative political group is looking to rally public support for Congress to block any further spending on the Affordable Care Act, known commonly as Obamacare. The town hall meetings will take place during August when Congress takes its summer recess.

“Four years ago, citizens crammed into town hall meetings all across the country to exercise their First Amendment rights. Although Congress is now doing fewer and fewer town hall meetings, the need for civic engagement has never been greater, so Heritage Action is stepping in to fill the void,” said Michael Needham, the group’s CEO.

The town hall tour will open Aug. 19 in Fayetteville and end Aug. 29 in Wilmington, Del.

Americans United for Change, a liberal advocacy group, plans to organize local opposition to the Heritage town hall event in Fayetteville.

“It would be our intent to identify individuals and activists to respond to that kick-off event in Arkansas,” said AUC President Brad Woodhouse.

In Congress, conservative lawmakers are threatening to oppose any budget that includes funding for Affordable Care. The current fiscal year ends Sept. 30. Congress will look to pass a temporary measure to keep funds flowing to federal programs into the next fiscal year when they return from break in early September.

A dozen Senate Republicans signed a letter last week vowing to vote against any “continuing resolution” that includes any funding for the health care program. In the House, about 60 conservatives have signed a similar letter.

Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, has not signed the House letter but is supportive of the effort.

“He generally prefers consulting with colleagues in person, rather than joining letters. But he strongly supports all efforts to defund, delay, and ultimately repeal Obamacare, regardless the legislative approach,” said spokeswoman Caroline Rabbitt.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has criticized the defund campaign as unworkable given that Democrats control the Senate and White House.

“I’d be leading the charge if I thought this would work. But it will not work,” Coburn told the Washington Examiner. “It’s not an achievable strategy. It’s creating the false impression that you can do something when you can’t. And it’s dishonest.”

Coburn said Obama would not agree to defund his signature health care bill on the threat of a government shutdown. Moreover, he told the paper that a government shutdown would lead to a public backlash against Republicans.